Yvonne Samyn

Yvonne Irene (Deleye) Samyn, age 81 of Redwood Falls passed away on Monday, June 29, 2009 at Wood Dale Nursing Home in Redwood Falls while surrounded by her family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Redwood Falls. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Redwood Valley Funeral Home in Redwood Falls with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m.

Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Interment is in St. Catherine’s Catholic Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at: www.redwoodvalleyfuneralhome.com. The Redwood Valley Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Yvonne Irene Deleye was born in Passendale, Belgium on May 3, 1928 to Kamiel Jerome and Anna (Menu) Deleye. She was baptized and made her first communion at the St. Adaumarus Catholic Church in Passendale and was confirmed at Moorslede, Belgium. Yvonne’s mother passed away at age 47 which required her to help with field work, housework and raising her younger siblings. On October 4, 1950, Yvonne married Georges J. Samyn at Passendale, Belgium. For one and a half years they lived and worked on the Deleye homestead. On May 13, 1952, they, and their nine month old daughter Agnes, left their native Belgium and immigrated to the USA. They crossed the Atlantic aboard the Queen Elizabeth to New York and onto Detroit by train to visit family. Then they continued on to Tracy, MN. There they farmed until February 1957, when they moved to Redwood County where they continued to farm and raise their family. They moved to Redwood Falls in 1985. Yvonne was employed by the Redwood Falls Hospital, Wood Dale Nursing Home and Wilson’s Clothing in Redwood Falls. Her passions included the farm, her numerous friends, gardening, sewing and needlework. She especially loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Yvonne and George were able to return to Belgium seven times throughout the years for visits. She was very proud of her Belgian heritage through her home-made cookies, soups and breads. Her laughter and great sense of humor are characteristics that will never be forgotten.

Yvonne is survived by her five children: Agnes (Philip) Johanneck of Redwood Falls, Cecelia (Roger) Hebeisen of Elk River, Monique (Jim) Olhausen of Willmar, Joel (Jolene) Samyn of Redwood Falls, and Marlene (Dave) Andresen of Britton, SD; nine grandchildren; five step grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and sister Godelieve (Fernand) Caignie of Passendale, Belgium. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband George, four siblings and two grandsons.